Some health benefits of blood donation

'Benefit of Blood donation to us and Our society'

A wise turtle when battling with a two-legged buffalo, said - " My friend, the more you take... the less you have ". This quote actually overlapped with my mum words when she is contributing to a good cause " The more you Give, The more you Have " to make my dad feel better. These quotes are just about right for the particular topic of Blood Donation.

Article Contents
● Introduction
● List of advantages of donating blood
● Steps to do before donating
● After donation
● Finding blood banks
● Final Words

You can benefit up to 3 lives by your blood donation every single time! As blood is composed of many components that can be separated & used according to the situation. A good blood-bank always separate various blood component for patients in urgent need.
If you have the chance to ask your nearby hospital, you will be shocked to know how much blood is required by most of the patients every single day!

In most cases, people who are suffering from illnesses such as Cancer, Leukemia, Thalassemia, Sickle-cell anemia, Hemophilia, certain Kidney and Liver diseases, Malaria and other Vector-borne diseases need the blood transfusion at regular intervals depending on their condition. Also, people who have injuries from Accident, Disaster, Warfare, or the patients going through any kind of Surgery, need a quick blood supply to replace their lost blood to get away from the critical condition.

You are instantly saving someone's life by blood donation which makes you a real-life hero. Now, that ought to make you feel really contended, Isn't it?

But besides the noble satisfaction, Did I mention that - you are not only helping others but also getting yourself some awesome health benefit from blood donation? Well, you might be thinking what advantages does a donor get from donating blood? then just read the points below to know how-

• Many medical researchers believe that periodic donation of blood & its components can reduce the accumulation of fat & cholesterol in the arteries which in turn can decrease the risk of heart disease and strokes.

• Blood donation generally speeds up the blood regeneration process for a normal human that help to maintain a healthy blood flow within a body.

• Excess of iron in the blood can damage our liver, pancreas, thyroid or related hormone functioning of these organs. If unchecked for a long time it can cause Cirrhosis or enlargement of the liver, painful joints, Pancreatitis, Diabetes, etc.

• Hence, you can prevent from storing too much iron in your blood by donating your blood more often.

• Blood donating often can also prevent you from getting stress, depression & obesity thus making you look much younger.

• With all of the above, you are getting free health check-ups too, from time to time.

Did you see how many benefits you are getting from periodic blood donation? Now, read the passages below to know more about general steps before & after blood donation.

Before Donation

It is best to drink plenty of water & have a good night sleep before. Avoid eating junk foods, alcoholic drinks as it may affect your blood report. Remember, if you are going to donate platelets than you must be free from aspirin or aspirin-like medication for at least 2 days.

After Donation

It is normal to feel a little dizzy or weak & drop of blood pressure is also a normal reaction after the donation. Blood donation is done in a safe environment under the direct supervision of authorized medical personnel. After the donation, the physicians generally provide you an immediate meal to recover quickly from dizziness & pressure drop.
They will advise you to take a balanced meal, adequate rest, drinking sufficient water & to maintain a healthy lifestyle for at least 15 days after the blood transfusion to fasten your blood recovery.

Blood Banks

Through the internet, you can find many NGOs and charitable blood banks all over the world, for example, Red-Cross Society, Red Crescent Society, etc. If you prefer the old-school method, then just visit your nearby hospitals or medical clinic to get appropriate information about blood donation.

Final Words

By donating blood, not only you are contributing to a social cause but you are also keeping a good track of your own health. So, why not try to make a better change? Let's all think for a moment about those people who suffer from major blood deficiency in hospitals,
blood banks & can only rely on the blood that the responsible persons like you donate. Believe it, you are really changing someone's life by taking this one noble step.

Additional Links
To donate your blood, you can visit -http://www.ifrc.org/en/Contact-us/
Or - https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?utm_campaign=rco_search_home&utm_medium=rco_blood&utm_source=redcross.org&zipSponsor=20006 . You can also visit their main page here - https://www.redcrossblood.org/ .

In India you can look here- http://www.friends2support.org/inner/about/blood.aspx
Or - http://www.indianblooddonors.com/index.php